After I Stopped Loving Him (Isabella and Ethan) novel Chapter 710

“Laura, take a look at this.”

Janetta handed Laura an envelope.

Laura hesitated, but her curiosity got the better of her. She took the envelope. Whatever was inside, she wasn't worried.

But if Janetta thought she could convince her to leave Cabinda, that was never going to happen. Laura was Cabinda through and through. She wasn’t about to move away just to avoid a man.

With a mix of confusion and curiosity, Laura opened the envelope. Inside was a stack of photographs.

Every single photo was of Jesse.

There he was in the kitchen, wearing an apron, washing vegetables, chopping them, stirring something on the stove. There were shots of him with a mask on, mopping the floor, tidying up the house.

Was this what Jesse’s daily life looked like?

Laura flipped through all the photos, then looked up at Janetta. She didn’t say anything, just waited for an explanation.

Janetta tried a pastry, her eyes lighting up at the taste. She took a sip of coffee, set the cup down, and finally spoke, her voice gentle. “I took all of those photos in secret. Jesse doesn’t know.”

Laura stayed quiet.

Janetta went on, “Jesse used to be terrible in the kitchen. He was always busy, never had time to learn how to cook. And honestly, in our family, he didn’t need to.”

Laura raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because Jesse insisted we be his taste-testers. After trying his food over and over, we started to dread it. Even as he got better, he’d make the same dish again and again. Just imagine eating the same few things every day. Wouldn’t you get tired of it?”

Janetta smiled, remembering. “He’s never really dated anyone. Maybe he had a crush on a girl in middle or high school, that’s what Harold told me. They’ve known each other since they were kids, always together. But back then, a crush isn’t the same as love, right? Anyway, they lost touch after graduation. As an adult, he’s never liked anyone. Not really.”

“A lot of girls have tried to chase him, but he turned them all down. He’s thirty now and still single. It wasn’t until he met you that he really felt something.”

“From the moment he started liking you, he told us he’d found someone special and was working up the nerve to pursue her. He made us promise not to talk to you without his permission. He was worried we’d scare you off.”